Container covering machine



April 12, 1960 Filed March 18, 1957 W. T. SAURENMANN CONTAINER COVERING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. T. SAURENMANN CONTAINER COVERING MACHINE April 12, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 18, 1957 INVENTOR. Mil/ m Search 7774 77 1 BY fig A than) :7

April 12, 1960 W. T. SAURENMANN CONTAINER COVERING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1957 6 Sheets-$heet 4 Jae 67 IN V EN TOR.

W. T. SAURENMANN CONTAINER COVERING MACHINE April 12,1960

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 18, 1957 MRI/am 71mm:

INVENTOR aura?) MW April 12, 1960 Filed March 18, 1957 w. 'r. SAURENMANN 2,932,141

CONTAINER COVERING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

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United States Pat fi CONTAINER COVERING MACHINE William Thomas Saurenmann, Whittier, Calii'l, assignor to Sealright-Oswego Falls Corporation, Fulton, N.Y., a corporation of New York 7 Application March 18, 1957, Serial No. 646,773 r 3 Claims. c1. sap-3'14 This invention relates to a machine for applying flanged slip covers to containers and particularly slip covers formed of paperboard to cylindrical paperboard containers. Such containers are sold and shipped in large volume with the slip covers positioned thereon, necessitating removal of the cover by the user to permit insertion of the contents within the container and the re -application.of the cover to the container. Containers of this type are used extensively for pack aging products, such as ice-cream. The ice-cream is 'dispensed in a continuous stream from the ice-cream freezer, and the containers are filled by hand manipulation. Under the circumstances, only one operator can fill cans with cream flowing from a freezer. It is necessary for the operator to use both hands to manipulate the cans under the dispensing nozzle. Accordingly, the operator can not remove covers from empty cans, nor can she replace the covers on the filled cans.

This invention has as an object a'machine embodying a simplified structure which permits the operator to remove the cover from the emptycan while it is held in one hand without any substantial eifort or loss oftime, and the machine functions automatically to apply the cover to the filled can when the operator positions it on the can guideway.

A further object of the invention is such a machine embodying a particularly compact structure procurable at a nominal cost and which may be conveniently moved in juxtaposition to the freezer dispensing nozzle.

The invention consists in the novel features and'in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is bad to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view in reference to the right hand portion of Figure Figure 3 is a sideelevational viewin reference to the left portion of Figure 1, with parts in section.

' Figure 4 is a top plan view. Figure '5 is an enlarged top plan 'view of the cover chute withthe upper portion of the top wall thereof removed.

Figure 6 is a view taken on a line correspondingto line 66, Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view taken on line 77, Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the upper cover removing end of the chute.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of a container with the cover thereon.

The machine comprises a frame consisting of an elongated base plate 20 bent downwardly along its edges as at 21 and inwardly, as at 22. A vertically arranged Patented Apr. 12, 1 960 the'plate 24, as by screws 28 and spacer sleeves 29, see

Figure 5.

A similar bar 30 is supported at one end by a bracket 31 fixed to the front flange 21 of the base plate. The

bars 26, 30, are bent to have upwardly inclined portions 32. A flat plate 33 is detachably secured to the bars 26, 30, as by thumb screws 36. The machine is provided with an inclined cover chute, the side walls of which, at its lower end, are formed by the inclined portions 32 of the bars 26, 30. The top wall of this portion of the chute is formed by a pair of plates 37 attached to the bars 26, 30, as by thumb nuts- 38. The bottom wall of this lower portion of the chute is in the form of a flat plate 40 attached at its side edges to the bars, as by screws 41, the plate being spaced downwardly from the bars by spacer sleeves 42, see Figure 3. The upper portion of the chute also inclines upwardly and is curved toward the front of the machine.

This portion of the chute is formed by a fiat bottom wall V chute.

The upper end of the bottom wall 43 is formed with a recess, the outer portion of which is defined by straight edges spaced apart a distance comparable to the diameter of the -container,-see Figures 5 and 8. These straight portions merge with a semi-circular inner wall 51, see Figure 5. The outer portions 52 of the bottom wall 43, forming the edges '50, are offset downwardly, as best shown in Figure Land are provided with cover flange engaging members 54 pivotally mounted on screws 55. Referring to Figure 5, the members 54 are urged inwardly by torsion springs 57 against stop pins 58. When the members 54 are positioned against the pins 58, the inner arcuate portions 60 form a continuation of the curved wall 51.

:The purpose of this arrangement is to provide means for stripping the flanged slip covers 61 from the containers 62. The operator inserts the upper portion of the container in the upper bifurcated end of the bottom wall 43, with the periphery of the container engaging the curvature 51 and the curved inner portions 60 of is engaged by spring members 65 secured to the bars 26,

30. These spring members have inwardly bent portions extending through apertures 66 in the bars and are provided with end portions 67 arranged to engage the flange of the covers 61. Thelower end of the bottom plate 40 is of arcuate formation as at 68, see Figures 4 and 5'; The cover is yieldingly held by the spring members 65 in this inclined position, with the leading portion of the cover flange depending in the path of travel of the containers 62. As the filled containers are moved forwardly on the plate 20, the depending portion of the cover flange is engaged by the 'top and the cover moved forwardly and it is pressed downwardly into place on the top of the container by the plate 33. Y

The containers are advanced forwardly by a pusher element 70 of semi-circular form mounted on the end of; a piston rod 71 slidable a cylinder 72. The cylin- V der 72 is mounted on thebase plate, as by suitable brackets 74.

The container advancing member 70- is formed with. apertures 73a to receive a. series of rods 73,. like ends of which are inserted in a cross member 75: supported on the base plate by studs 76, Figures, 3 and. 6. The. mem ber 75 is positioned at the end of the cylinder-72l and rearwardlyof. the. member 70 when it is in its return position. i

The rods 73 are supported, intermediate their ends, on a cross bar 77, the ends of which are inserted in up-- wardly extending and inclined notches 78 formed in blocks 80. mounted on the: rear wall 24 and the brace-31. The: forward ends.- of the rods incline downwardly to the base plate, see Figure 1. Inthis manner, the rodassembly can lie-detachably mounted. in the machine and serves as an elevated container guideway to support shorter containers. In this, manner, the machine accommodates containers of diflerent. height and capacities, such as quart and pint containers. A container supporting shelf 82 extends forwardly from the base plate for convenience in receiving filled containers. An auxiliary shelf 83; is provided with supporting legs 84 having ends, to enter holes 85 in the fixed shelf 82. This shelf 83 is used: in conjunction. with the rods 73. Both shelves have a guide member 86 formed with an outer curved portion 87 to assist in properly guiding the filled containers onto the base plate 20, or the rods 73.

As the filled containers are moved inwardly on the base plate 20, or the rods 73, the containers contact a trip lever having upper and, lower portions 90, 91, connected to an arm 92 extending transversely of the base plate and having a, hub 93 journalled. on a; study screw 94, see. Figures 2 and. 6.. A. link 95 is connected to the bight of the trip and to a control valve 96. A conduit "Erasers:

tainer receiving position in spring clip 67, as shown in Figure.3. I 4

This apparatus provides for the convenient and rapid removal of the slip covers from the containers and for re-application of the covers to the filled containers, thus permitting an operator at a filling machine to use covered containers without interference with the container filling operation.

9.8[supplies air under pressure to the valve 96.. When the trip 91 is engaged by a filled container, the trip is moved in a clockwise direction about its pivot to actuate the valve 96 to cause air pressure to be applied through conduit 100 to. the rearend of the cylinder 72 efliecting forward movement of the rod. 71 andv the pusher 70 to advance the filled container 62' forwardly to pick: up the depending cover 61, Figure. 3, and upon further advancement of the container, the cover is applied to the container by the. plate 33.

A rod110 is. attached to the pusher 70 and, extends into a tube 111- mounted in the bracket 74 below the cylinder 72. This rod has secured to its inner end. a piston 112. When the pusher 70 has been advanced forwardly to the end of its stroke, thepiston- 112 engages the arm 92 of the trip, moving it. in acounterclockwise direction, about its pivot to reset the. trip and actuate the valve 96 to. exhaust the. rear end of the cylinder 72 and apply pressure to the forward end of the cylinder through conduit 114 to effect return, movement of the pusher.

At the beginning of the forward movement of the pusher, air is supplied from the valve 96 through the conduit, 115, the upper end. of which is connected to the upper portion of the cover chute, seev Figure 5, and provides an air blast to direct the covers downwardlythrough the chute, thusmaking certain that the covers stripped from. the containers willbe-directed downwardly to con- What I claim is:

1., A machine. for'applying flanged slip covers to com tainers comprising a frame, a base plate providing a container guideway surface, an inclined chute having its lower end. terminating adjacent one end of said base plate and having means for positioning a cover with a portion of the flange thereof depending for engagement by a container advancing along said guideway, an auxiliary guideway detachably mounted in the frame intermediate said base plate. and said chute to accommodate containers of. a. ditferent height, and a container advanc ingmember common-to both of said guideways ando n erable to advance containers. therealong.

2. A machine. for applying flanged. slip covers to containers. comprising a. container guideway,. an inclined cover. chute having a bottom wall terminating above: the guideway adjacent one end thereof, the. upper end pop. tion ofv said. bottom wall being formedv with a semi-circular recess for receiving a cylindrical container body,

a pair of cover flange engaging, members movable. in wardly toward the axis of said recess to form a continuation thereof, means operable for yieldingly moving said members inwardly, the marginal. surface about said re-v cess and said cover flange engaging members forming a support. for the container cover during downward movemeritv of the container. for stripping the cover therefrom for descent downwardly along said chute, means at the lower end of said chute operable. to yieldingly position a cover. witha. lower portion of the flange. thereof depending for engagement. by the top edge of a container advancing along said. guideway, and acontainer advancing member operable to advance a container along said. guide way..

3. A machine for applying flanged slip covers to cone tainers. comprising a frame, a base plate providing a container guideway surface, an inclined. cover chute having its. lower. endterminating above one end of said base plate and having means for positioning a cover with 8 portion of the flange thereof-depending for engagement by a container advanced along said guideway, an auxiliary guideway detachably mounted in the frame intermediate said base plate and said chute to accommodate containers. of less. height, a container advancing mem= ber reciprocably mounted in the frame for advancing containers along said guideways, said container advancing member having portions extending below and ahovesaid auxiliary guideway. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,990,148 Tevander Feb. 5, 1935 2,076,052 White Apr. 6, 1937 2,361,365 Bell Oct. 13, 1944 2,769,292 Day Nov. 6', 1956 2,842,924 Berlencourt. July 15, 1958 

